I spent my lunch break yesterday working on the bicycle again, going through link by link on the chain to find the sticky ones, giving them a drop of lube and working them back and forth. I had almost gone through the entire chain when I found the one causing the problem--it wouldn't bend at all and I had to exert a lot of pressure to break the rust, but I eventually got it moving again. Took the bike for a quick ride to the corner and back, feeling more confident riding than the day before, switching gears, and almost everything works. The only thing that doesn't work is shifting to the largest gear. I guess I can look into that and get the bike to 100%. I don't really need it though. I'm pretty proud of what I've done with the bike, considering I had zero knowledge of bike repair. But no one will say Wow! Good for you! except for me. It has always been my life that people just expect me to know how to do something and to do it. I can't even remember a time when someone was encouraging or cheering my accomplishments. I know it is petty to think this way. It's that feeling from growing up where my sister three years younger was praised for everything she did and how she looked, and I was ignored or criticized for what I was/did. I wonder what burden my children carry because of how I mothered them? Anyway...what I like about me is how I jump right in. If I'm interested in something, I learn more. I do more. I don't just leave questions unanswered or think about doing it.

So I checked a map of bike trails to see where I will go on my first ride.

Yesterday was super busy at work and I think the office email server was down sometime Monday night. IT never alerts us, and then we discover days and weeks later that online requests made during that time were not received. So frustrating. I'm afraid we missed a deadline for one district as a result. I didn't see it until 5pm and it was too late to do anything.

Thirty degrees this morning as we head into several days of rain, ice and snow. I wouldn't mind if it was April showers. But ice and snow and cold? No thanks. We're sooo close to spring.... The lilac is setting up to burst out in leaves. The alder's buds are swelling. They'll just have to wait.

I think I should plant a nannyberry this year.